A recent Harvard study has linked periods of anxiety, melancholy, and loneliness with the possibility of developing Long Covid. According to the study, those who experience periods of worry, despair, and loneliness before contracting the coronavirus have a significantly increased risk of getting Long Covid.

Some of the most common symptoms of the lengthy Covid include exhaustion, shortness of breath, memory troubles, loss of focus, sleep problems, a persistent cough, chest pain, difficulty speaking, muscle aches, a loss of smell and taste, as well as the start of despair and anxiety.

The study enrolled 54,000 participants in April 2020. Before the study began, participants were asked about any psychological problems they were experiencing. After 3000 subjects tested positive for Covid throughout the following year, they were again enquired about the symptoms and symptom duration.

The results of the data analysis showed that a 32–46% higher risk of protracted Covid was associated with mental distress before Covid-19 infection, including depression, anxiety, concern, perceived stress, and loneliness. In the past, there has also been a correlation between mental health and other illnesses. It has a stronger correlation with more severe and persistent influenza symptoms.

These findings also highlight the necessity of raising public awareness of mental health′s significance and providing those who require it with the necessary care. The research was released in the JAMA Psychiatry journal.  (Livemint, 19 Sep 2022)